We’re excited to announce the launch of a brand-new certification today: Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Design. It represents the next step in our modernization and certification expansion efforts and keeps a promise we made earlier this year, to build on our existing certifications and be more responsive to the industries we serve.

Working with the Fiber Optic Association, Inc., we have built this new certification to go beyond the initial Certified Fiber Optic Technician, which covers the basic installation of ITS, Traffic, Fire Alarm and Communications systems. The new fiber optics design class will improve skill sets and certify that recipients are now qualified to design fiber optic systems. More information will be available soon.

“Certified Fiber Optic Specialist/Design delivers on our promise to offer tests that reflect the kinds of advanced technology our members encounter every day,” said IMSA Board of Directors President Kevin Musick. “It couldn’t be a more appropriate way to lead off our new series of certifications.”

The new fiber optic certification is the initial phase in the growth we’ve been talking about over the last 9 months. The hard work of creating IMSA’s new certifications is paying off, and you’ll soon be receiving an email asking to help Beta Test the first five certifications. This is the last step before finalizing these exams for official use, and your help is critical to this process. If you missed the last message about the entire exam development effort, you can read more about it here.

Finally, just a quick reminder – your certification status will remain up-to-date and in good standing with IMSA until a new certification is available if you complete the required Continuing Education Credits (CECs).

That’s it…pretty simple.

If you want to be first in line for the new certifications when they are available, please send an email to cert@imsasafety.org, and we would be happy to pre-register you for the next available certification slot.

As I’ve said before, I believe the best is yet to come, and IMSA is on a path to becoming a stronger organization with a wider reach. The Fiber Optic Specialist/Design certification is proof of that, as we continue creating certifications for a modern workforce. We’re proud to be the industry standard for public safety, and it’s a good time to be a member of IMSA.

Toby